‘Everyone Has A Breaking Point’ – Worapon Targets Historic Finish Of Soe Lin Oo At ONE Friday Fights 139
The next step in Worapon Lukjaoporongtom’s climb comes with clear stakes and little room for miscalculation.
On Friday, January 23, in Asia primetime, the 23-year-old Thai will headline ONE Friday Fights 139 at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, where he meets already-contracted star Soe Lin Oo in a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown.
Known for relentless forward pressure and a willingness to walk through exchanges, the Myanmar powerhouse has built a reputation as one of the toughest outs. Despite facing elite opposition, the fighter known as “Man of Steel” has never been finished inside the world’s largest martial arts organization.
That reputation, however, is precisely what draws Worapon to the matchup:
“I’m excited to test myself against a contracted fighter like Soe Lin Oo. He’s a top-tier brawler from Myanmar. His biggest strength is his durability, he’s incredibly tough and can take a lot of strikes.
“He struggled recently in ONE, but that’s because he was facing the absolute best in the world. He might still have some holes in his game, but he’s still very dangerous.”
A stoppage victory over such an opponent would resonate beyond a single result. Over the past two years, Worapon has steadily carved out his place on the weekly spectacle, navigating early inconsistencies before finding rhythm and confidence.
That progress crystallized during a four-fight winning streak against tough opposition, highlighted by a first-round TKO victory over Kongkula Jitmuangnon at ONE Friday Fights 127 last October – a run that pushed him firmly into the US$100,000 main-roster contract conversation.
His climb slowed late last year when he dropped a decision to Julio Lobo in his first full move into the bantamweight division. The result exposed challenges that went beyond the scorecards.
Following a brief reset over the New Year, the Sor Dechapan affiliate returned straight into a focused six-week training camp. His emphasis shifted toward controlling range, adding variation, and avoiding predictability against a pressure-heavy opponent.
He explained:
“I’ve been focusing heavily on diversifying my arsenal – mixing up my kicks and punches. I don’t want to be one-dimensional or predictable.
“I’m going to be technical and pick my shots. I won’t rush in blindly. I want to control the pace. If I find that perfect opening, I’m going for the finish. Even though he’s known for having an iron chin, everyone has a breaking point. Ending his ‘no-KO’ streak in ONE would be a massive statement for me.”
Worapon Leans Into Lessons Learned From Last Fight
With another headline opportunity at ONE Friday Fights 139 fast approaching, Worapon Lukjaoporongtom enters fight week against Soe Lin Oo carrying both momentum and perspective.
The bantamweight Muay Thai clash marks another step in his continued push toward the promotion’s main roster while reflecting the adjustments made along the way.
Worapon’s decision loss to Julio Lobo late last year at ONE Friday Fights 135 forced a closer look at pacing, preparation, and strategic execution against larger opposition.
Reflecting on that night, Worapon pointed to strategic choices and physical adjustments that compounded as the rounds wore on:
“I went into that fight [against Lobo] fully prepared, but my game plan was off. I wanted to push the pace and trade, but he was a very large foreigner who knew how to use his size in the clinch.
“As the fight went on, I started to gas out. Moving up in weight made me slower. My body just hadn’t adjusted to this weight class yet.”
Absorbing sustained pressure, the 23-year-old stayed in the fight until the final bell, refusing to wilt despite being pushed into unfamiliar territory.
The experience reinforced what has long defined his persistence under fire, while also revealing the need for evolution.
After spending much of his ONE tenure competing around catchweight limits, the transition to bantamweight sharpened his awareness of pacing, adaptability, and discipline.
For Worapon, heart was never the question, but refinement was:
“It’s a shame I couldn’t get that fifth win in a row, and it felt like my dream of a ONE contract hit a roadblock. But I learned a lot of lessons from that loss. I’m using those mistakes to fix my game and come back even stronger this year.”
